By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

(The meeting was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m., but due to weather concerns is now set for 5:30 p.m.)

The Hays USD 489 Board of Education is set to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Toepfer Board Room in the Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th, for a work session.

Several topics are up for discussion, including project bidding procedures, Hays Middle School HVAC project funding and fees for the 2016-17 school year. The board is also set to continue discussions on the upcoming bond election as administrators begin organizing volunteers and preparing for a series of public town hall meetings to give the public opportunities to see what the bond would purchase and ask the administration questions.

In preparation for those meetings, the district has developed informational slides, which can be viewed here.

The board will also discuss project bidding procedures after concerns arose surrounding the bidding of HVAC systems at Hays Middle School at the last board meeting.

A notice during that process failed to be posted to the USD 489 website, causing board members to hear complaints about the process. The request for bidding procedures are now being reviewed by the board.

While the bidding process is under review, the HVAC project was passed by the board and now financing options and payment for architects to draw plans for the system are set to be discussed during the work session.

Fees for the 2016-17 school year are also set to be discussed by the board.

While most fees will remain the same or be lowered, some new fees will be discussed to offset the cost of expanded student access to technology and fees associated with summer school.

Other topics on the meeting’s agenda include:

• Hays Recreation Commission Resolution to Approve a Lease Agreement
  • Representatives from the HRC will present information to the board regarding a lease agreement to improve land owned by the commission.
• Board Term Changes Due to Passed Legislation
  • The administration will discuss recent changes in legislation that will require board members elected in 2013 to serve until Monday, January 8, 2018.
• Administrative Contracts
  • The board will take action on the Superintendent’s contract and the Assistant Superintendent’s contract at the February 15, 2016, meeting.
• Physical Education Credit Requirement Proposal from Hays High School
  • Hays High School Principal Marty Straub will make a recommendation to reduce a physical education class credit requirement to achieve the necessary credits to graduate.

A full agenda for the meeting, including the proposed fee schedule, can be found here.

Fort Hays State University Marketing and Relations

Ten students have been selected to represent Fort Hays State University at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit, Tuesday, Feb. 2, and Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol, Thursday, Feb. 18, in Topeka.

Participants share their research posters with state legislators and members of the Kansas Board of Regents.

The top graduate presenter from each university will receive a $500 scholarship sponsored by the participating institutions. BioKansas also awards a scholarship to the top research poster presenter.

The five graduates representing FHSU are listed by hometown, poster title and advisor:

Kaitlin Moore, Concordia, “Isolation of Soil Bacillus (spp) with Inhibitory Effects on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)” Dr. Eric Gillock, professor of biological sciences.

Thomas Buskuskie, Hays, “Osteohistology of Nibrarasaurus Coleii,” Dr. Laura Wilson, associate professor of geosciences.
Cory Keehn, Hays, “Qualities and Strategies of Fort Hays State University Peer Mentors,” Dr. Brent Goertzen, professor of leadership studies.

Brendon McCampbell, Hays, “Organismal Composition and Photosynthetic Traits of Biological Soil Crusts in Prairie Ecosystems of the Great Plains,” Dr. Brian Maricle, associate professor of biological sciences.

Andrew Christiano, Vancouver, Wash., “A Stratigraphic Description of Cambrian-Pennsylvanian Deposits Using Geophysical Well Logs — Well Cutting Analysis,” Dr. Hendratta Ali, assistant professor of geosciences.

Undergraduates who will represent FHSU are listed by hometown, classification, poster title and research mentor:

Hannah Speer, Dighton, senior, “Pig Growth and Development Based on Differing Swine Rations,” Dr. Robert Keener, associate professor of agriculture.

Chelsea Wheeler, Hays, senior, “Perceptions and Decisions Made by Jury Members on Educator-Student Sexual Abuse,” Dr. John Raacke, associate professor of criminal justice.

Joshua McDowell, Lebanon, senior, “Undergraduate Perceptions of Interpersonal Violence,” Dr. Tamara J. Lynn, associate professor of criminal justice, and co-investigators Madison Bainter, Hays, junior, and Abigail Hammeke, Great Bend.

Lia Boese, Ottawa, freshman, “Effects of Triclosan Concentration on Growth Rate of Lemna Minor,” Maricle.

Taylor Willits, Ozawkie, junior, “Facial Recognition of Dark Triad Traits and the Link to Prenatal Androgen Exposure,” Dr. Trey Hill, associate professor of psychology, and co-investigator Arianne Fisher, Plainville, senior.

By James Bell
Hays Post

After postponing two scheduled appearances, Tiffany Cannady, 25, was sentenced Wednesday morning to 24 months of probation after accepting a plea agreement.

Cannady pled to two counts of burglary–significantly reduced charges from her arrest in August on suspicion of four alleged incidents of burglary, three alleged misdemeanor theft incidents, one alleged felony theft incident and one alleged felony criminal damage.

During the Ellis County District Court hearing, six prior misdemeanor convictions were weighed into the sentencing, including driving without a license,  two driving while suspended convictions, criminal mischief, and possession of marijuana.

I’m sorry for what I’ve done,” Cannaday said to Judge Glenn Braun, and, “I hope to be a better citizen.”

Among the conditions of her probation are to fully pay restitution and court costs  of $3,151, to secure and maintain employment, and submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

Cannady said during the hearing she was not currently employed.

Going into the hearing, Cannady had credit for 84 days served in jail, but two days were revoked for failing to meet the terms of a diversion agreement for driving under the influence.

By James Bell
Hays Post

After an exhaustive search, Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine, has announced James Younger as their new director of marketing. He took over the role this month.

Being a Hays native, with fond memories of the shopping center, he was able to hit the ground running, already planning new events for the recently renovated facility.

“The biggest thing I was looking for was someone that was not afraid of being in the public eye, who can take the good and the bad and someone that truly wants to be in the community,” said Katie Dorzweiler, property manager.

“He fits all those requirements.”

Younger was born and raised in Hays, graduating from Hays High School in 2009 and Fort Hays State University in 2014 where he majored in communications.

With his experience and familiarity with Hays, he hopes to bring a unique take to the position.

“Being able to help create new and fresh events, I think that will really help revitalize the public opinion,” Younger said. “I feel my little bit younger perspective, but a mature perspective, will really play into this community.”

Having a male perspective in the position will also give Younger the ability to bring something different to the traditionally female role.

“James can implement different male and family oriented things,” Dorzweiler said and she wants Younger to find ways to give men more reasons to visit the mall, hopefully bringing family members along with them.

Within his position, Younger hopes to bring activities and events to the shopping center, similar to the ones he remembers from his youth when it was called the Hays Mall.

“A win for me, is honestly giving people a place to create memories,” he said, and to have locals “not only shop here, but have roots here, much in the way that I have roots in the community.”

He also hopes the mall can once again become a hub for the Hays community, that will in turn help bring in more tenants for the facility and shoppers for existing mall businesses.

“The more foot-traffic that we create, the more opportunities come our way,” Younger said. “I think that’s something the community of Hays could really benefit from.”

While the mall has received some bad publicity in recent years, Younger and Dorzweiler hope area residents will see changes in the facility’s culture and give the property the opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the Hays community to create a stronger shopping center for the region.

With more shopper traffic, more opportunities will arise for new business to come into the facility. With that in mind in his new role, Younger said he wants to “help increase people’s awareness about the mall, help get them in here,” to see the changes being made, and to feel the center’s new attitude.

By James Bell
Hays Post

A second meeting for residents interested in helping spread information about the Hays school district’s upcoming $94 million bond election will be held Wednesday evening. USD 489 administration will host the meeting which starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Hays High Lecture Hall, 2300 E. 13th.

In a message sent at the beginning of the year, the district outlined the following committees for which interested parties could volunteer:

• The Fundraising Committee will help identify the budget for the campaign and solicit donations.

• The Public Relations Committee will help brand the bond issue, provide materials for the website and social media outlets, and host community events.

• The Voter Participation Committee will assist others in registering to vote and encourage voter responsiveness.

• The Speakers Bureau Committee will seek opportunities to make public presentations to organizations and serve as an advocate in support of the bond.

• The Volunteer Committee will help generate volunteers to organize general educational materials for the bond election, as well as help the other committees when needed.

The bond election was originally planned for April.  But  it has been pushed back in order to collect approximately 1,200 signatures of eligible voters to put a proposed sales tax on the ballot, adding the funding component to help offset the cost of the bond issue.   Earlier this month, the Hays City Commission declined to support the USD 489 request for a sales tax ballot.

A series of town hall meetings, starting Thur., Feb.  4, has also been planned in order to give the public an opportunity to see individual building needs and ask questions about the bond.

Individuals interested in serving on a committee can contact USD 489 Board Clerk Sarah Wasinger at (785) 623-2400, Ext. 112, or by email at [email protected].

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

As the Hays USD 489 Board of Education works to finalize details of a proposed bond election, the administration is set to begin a massive communication campaign to inform residents of exactly what the $94 million price tag will include.

“Right now, we are working on and have a calendar of town hall meetings,” said Superintendent Dean Katt.

The meetings will include a tour of the individual district buildings along with a presentation of the overall bond issue.

“The outline of the meetings is to do the tour, do an overall bond election update of the dollar amount, where it goes, what each building would get and then come back and focus on that building’s needs,” Katt said. “The main focus, obviously, in every building that we look at is security and safety, two of the big issues that we have and have a great need to do a better job for our kids.”

Meetings are also being planned for civic and business organizations and anyone interested can request a presentation.

“Anyone that wants us to come or anyone to come and talk about the bond issue we would be more than welcome to set up a meeting,” Katt said.

Presentation materials are also being readied that will be available on the USD 489 website. In the meantime, Katt encourages questions about the bond to his office.

“Feel free to call and ask questions … if you want information, whatever it may be,” he said.

To help in getting the information out to the public, volunteers are being sought to spread bond details.

Meetings for volunteers to join committees are set for 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Hays Middle School cafeteria and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Hays High lecture hall.

While the administration has taken many questions from the public about the bond, Katt said comments to him have been positive and curious rather than completely against the bond.

“What I hear going to the schools has been very, very positive,” he said. “Publicly, people don’t say a whole lot of negatives to me. … They have questions.”

Those questions are exactly what the meetings are set to address.

“I think we can inform the public, and they can make an informed decision when we have the election,” he said.

A lot of the questions, Katt said, center around the amount of the bond and why it is better to complete the project in one pass, rather than break the work up.

Outside of questions to the administration, many residents have questioned the bond in light of recent Hays National Education Association contract negotiations with the Board of Education – specifically why the district is considering such a large facilities project while teachers have remained locked in their vertical pay scale for years.

Even though bond money cannot be used to fund salaries, Katt said the frequent maintenance currently needing to be undertaken due to aging facilities affects the amount of money available for salaries and classroom supplies.

“Right now, the way our budget is with capital outlay, we’re trying to budget accordingly and make changes as we go, but we’re always financing these things for three, four, five years,” he said. “If the bond issue passes, we are not going to have to continually have two or three lease payments or payments coming out of capital outlay — that means some of the other money is freed up.”

Katt was quick to caution, however, that voting for the bond would not guarantee money would become available for salary purposes.

“I don’t want to give anybody the impression that if they vote for this your going to get a big raise because of it,” he said.

Uncertainty around the state budget also makes any future capital movement hard to ascertain, but overall maintenance is taking a much larger share of funds that would not be necessary if the bond were to pass.

“There are things we can do that would free up some money if we didn’t have our capital outlay budget so tight now just doing infrastructure,” Katt said.

The first meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at O’Loughlin Elementary.

By James Bell
Hays Post

Following complaints to Hays USD 489 Board of Education members about a recent $1.3 million bid to upgrade the heating and air conditioning systems at Hays Middle School, the board will look at setting specific policies in place for future project bids.

The recent complaints began following a failure to post a secondary bid for the systems to the USD 489 website. Board members discussed the process at Monday night’s board meeting.

The administration recommended to the board to accept the bid from the Glassman Corp. in Hays, but the board quickly began questioning how the bid was received.

“The question I am receiving is how is this bid being ‘noticed’,” said board member Josh Waddell.

“We talked to the engineer and sat down and went through what the bid specs were going to be,” Superintendent Dean Katt explained. “The engineer then sent bids out to certified companies that could complete the (revised project) work for a first and then a second round of bids, after the first single bid came in over budget.”

A regular step in the second round of bids, however, was missed.

“We didn’t notice this on the (USD 489) webpage?” board member Lance Bickle asked of the administration, to which Katt answered no.

“I think it got overlooked with coming back and re-bidding it, and it was Christmas break,” said Rusty Lindsay, director of buildings and grounds. “There was no agenda there of any kind. It just flat got missed going on the web, would be my guess,” he said.

Without the notice on the web, Bickle was hesitant to vote for the recommendation and accept the bid.

“I guess the concern I have is, I can’t in good conscience vote for this due to the fact that this was not put out publicly, to allow all vendors a fair chance to bid,” Bickle said. “In my opinion, this is the second time on this project we have had issues.”

“There wasn’t intent to deceive or anything on the school’s part,” Lindsay said, telling the board he worked with the engineer to develop the bid. The first bid was developed to “ensure continuity between equipment,” he said, but once the price of doing so was received, it was decided to change acceptable equipment for the project in order to lower the total price tag.

“The reason we re-bid it wasn’t because we weren’t happy with the equipment being bid; it was beyond the budget that we set,” Lindsay said. “So we had to go back and open it up.”

The board looked at the two new bids at their work session last week.

Even with the re-bid project not being put on the website, it was sent to bidders from the first bid round and everyone the engineer had identified as qualified to install the systems. Around eight potential bidders received notification of the revised project.

“I don’t have a problem with how we are doing it. I just think we need to do a better job of letting people know that this is our policy, this is how it’s going to be done,” Bickle said.

Administration had been evaluating the school district’s bid process, even before concerns with the HMS HVAC re-bid had been noted.

“The problem I have is that, technicality or not, we have policies and procedures,” said Sarah Rankin, board member. “That affects people in this town. If we have vendors out there – businesses out there – that could have responded and didn’t because they didn’t know about the second round, that comes back on us.” She also noted that it created the perception of bias.

“There’s procedures, but it’s not board policy,” Katt said.

“We did not post round two of the RFP (Request For Proposal); that’s the whole issue here,” Bickle said in response to an audience member who suggested the current system is sufficient for local business.

The bidder that was recommended for the project by the administration also gave input for the board.

“I bid your project twice, put a lot of work in it, a lot of money,” said Joseph Glassman, president and CEO of Glassman Corp. “We were told this project, if it was under budget, was going to pass and I’m having a hard time understanding that somehow in the last eight hours or sixteen hours I’m getting an email from an engineer that says to our people that (board members) are questioning the bid process.

“The first bid went over the money. Several weeks later I was contacted again for a re-bid. It included more bidders on the bidders list on the top of the letter, and again we bid it and we’re a little better,” Glassman said. “The question that’s not being answered here that the engineer – I’m not going to speak for him – but probably took into account, is that you have to be credentialed and certified to install this equipment.”

When asked by the school board how he can make that claim, he said the equipment manufacturer would say the same.

Glassman informed the board he knew several bidders had been contacted through the process.

“You can open it up to public bidding,” he said. “But the fact of the matter is even if you advertise it, if they didn’t meet the credentials they can’t bid it, unless they prove they can get certified to install the equipment and that’s where the process changes.”

“This is highly specialized equipment. It takes highly specialized equipment to install it and your technicians need to be trained and that’s probably where the difference is here,” Glassman said.

The final vote passed 5-2, with Waddell and Bickle voting against the recommendation to accept the Glassman bid of $1,360,085.34.